The 2017 Governorís Summer Reading Challenge was launched on May 19, 2017, at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford. Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Commissioner of Education Dr. Dianna R. Wentzell, and State Librarian Kendall Wiggin were on hand to stress the importance of reading during the summer and to recognize the top-performing schools from the 2016 Summer Reading Challenge. Schools compete based on student population and grade level. The program identifies the schools with the highest percentage of participating enrollment and the highest number of books read by participating students.

Student journals, district reporting forms and all other materials are available online. The Governor's Summer Reading Challenge supports community programs run by local public libraries.